Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Daily Lobo The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Latest Issue
Read our print edition on Issuu
Freshman Beau Capanna looks downfield before he runs to first base while playing against San Jose State University on Saturday, March 12, 2017 at Santa Ana Star Field. 

Freshman Beau Capanna looks downfield before he runs to first base while playing against San Jose State University on Saturday, March 12, 2017 at Santa Ana Star Field. 

Baseball: Lobos off to program-best start in conference play

After sweeping a three-game series against UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada, the University of New Mexico baseball team accomplished a new program record with its latest win.

The Lobos (15-9) improved its Mountain West record to a perfect 9-0 start in conference play, beating UNLV (10-16, 5-7 MW) on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Stadium by a score of 7-3, as pitching proved to be the key factor in the game.

Though UNM allowed 13 hits in the game, 12 off which came off of starting pitcher Luis Gonzalez, UNLV could not find a way to get many of them across the plate.

By the time Justin Slaten and Christian Tripp entered the game, it was too late. The two combined to allow just one hit and no runs in the final three innings on the mound, respectively.

Head coach Ray Birmingham said he was impressed with his bullpen’s performance, praising Slaten and Tripp for their ability to close out the game.

“'Gonzo' was good, but the combo of Justin Slaten and Christian Tripp gives us a chance to shorten games in the future,” Birmingham said in a press release. “They were automatic.”

UNM got out to a hot start offensively, with Gonzalez reaching first base on a walk in the lead-off spot. The next two Lobo batters were put out, but Jared Mang reached base after getting hit by a pitch.

The Lobos made the Rebels pay, as first baseman Jack Zoellner nailed a three-run homer to right field to put the team up 3-0.

After two scoreless innings for the home team, UNLV broke through with a run in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to cut UNM’s lead to two runs.

But UNM rallied right back to stretch the lead to three again after Danny Collier produced an RBI single that scored Andre Vigil from second base, putting the Lobos up 4-1.

“Jack Zoellner’s two-strike, three-run home run was clutch for us,” Birmingham said in a release. “Danny Collier’s two-out RBI single was the difference though.”

In the same inning, Jared Mang added another run to the scoreboard for the Lobos, driving in Collier on an RBI single to make it 5-1.

Enjoy what you're reading?
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Subscribe

UNLV answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs to cut into the deficit again and pull with 5-3.

But UNM responded again with Gonzalez driving in Vigil in the seventh inning on an RBI single, which put the Lobos back up by three runs again

The Lobos added an insurance run in the eighth inning to end the scoring for both teams, as the relievers went through the later innings without incident and the game ended 7-3 in favor of New Mexico.

UNLV was able to muster a hit in the bottom of the ninth, but never got a legitimate scoring threat going.

As a team, UNM produced seven hits and seven runs in 32 plate appearances. Zoellner led the way at the plate for the Lobos, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs as part of his efforts. Vigil was the only other Lobo to produce more than one hit, where he went 2-for-4 at the plate, while also scoring two runs.

Gonzalez received the win on Sunday to improve his season record to 2-2.

UNM will shift its focus to in-state rival New Mexico State in Las Cruces on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN Radio 101.7, The TEAM.


Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers women's basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz

Comments
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Daily Lobo